Accessories

The best smart scales

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 27, 2019

Whether you're looking to track your progress on the way to a weight goal, or you just simply want to be a little healthier, smart scales are useful tools. They're accurate, provide valuable data, and sync up with your smartphone so you can easily log and share your results.

There's a lot to consider when shopping for a smart scale including price, features, app compatibility, and customer ratings. To help you make the right decision, we've decided to put together a roundup of what we think are the best smart scales on the market right now.

This minimalist case turns your iPhone jet black (or jet white)

Sébastien Page ∙ March 17, 2017

Besides a redesigned camera bump, one of the main differentiator between the iPhone 7 and its predecessor was the new jet black colorway. It’s beautiful and sexy, but as Apple was quick to point out, it’s also incredibly prone to micro abrasions.

The solution offered is to put it in a case, which clearly defeats the purpose of having a jet black iPhone to begin with. And that's where the folks at Totallee come in with the Scarf, their incredibly light and thin case, now available in jet black and jet white.

Protect your AirPods case with PodPockets

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated May 7, 2018

If you are lucky enough to own a set of AirPods, you love them, you take them everywhere, you show them to everyone, you run back into the house if you forget them. You are constantly grabbing and going these little wizards, which by most standards, are the best technology forward product Apple released in 2016. With all Apple products, I want to keep them safe and sound, but the high polish white plastic does not hold up very well against scratches.

Within about two days, my AirPods case was scratched and ruined. I use ruined fairly loosely, but any scratch on my Apple products is a total travesty. Thankfully, I stumbled across PodPockets, which now safely cradle my AirPods case.

Alto makes a top-contending leather case for most iPhone models

Anthony Bouchard ∙ March 9, 2017

Over the last few weeks, we have shown you a number of the top leather case brands for iPhones, but another that we feel deserves attention is Alto.

Hand-crafted with fine Italian leather, Alto cases are subtly formed out of what feels like surreal perfection. If you’re one to judge products closely, and every bit of quality matters to you, then Alto’s attention to detail is likely to impress.

Poll: do you own any HomeKit products?

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 2, 2017

Do I have any HomeKit accessories in my home? No, not yet, but that's because I currently live in a rented apartment. I'll be getting smart home gadgets when I buy my own house, that's for sure. Until that day arrives, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for prices of HomeKit products to continue dropping.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of how HomeKit brings these appliances together in the Home app with support for scenes, Siri voice control, remote management via Apple TV and other perks. I also like it a lot how HomeKit products are required to use hardware encryption for security purposes. It's just that outfitting my home with these smart gadgets would represent too sizable an investment for my budget, that's all.

So, what about you? Do you own any HomeKit-certified accessories? Cast your vote and meet us in comments if you'd like to share your thoughts about the HomeKit platform or any HomeKit devices you already own, or may be planning on buying.

Nomad’s PowerPack is a rugged battery pack that you can track with Tile

Anthony Bouchard ∙ February 24, 2017

Battery packs are a hot commodity these days because it seems like our mobile devices never want to last as long as we’d like them to. They bring us out of the dark ages, where we used to have to sit by a power outlet and wait for our handsets to charge, and are advantageous because they allow you to charge on the go, no matter how far away from civilization you might be.

On the other hand, people who are always on the go have a tendency of misplacing things, and sometimes that means losing their battery packs. That’s why Nomad came up with the PowerPack, a trackable battery pack you can keep tabs on with your mobile device, even when you’ve forgotten it somewhere or misplaced it.

Snapchat kicks off online sales of iPhone-connected Spectacles

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Spectacles, a pair of camera glasses developed and manufactured by Snapchat, are no longer exclusively distributed via the company's pop-up vending machines, called Snapbots. Today, Spectacles became available for purchase online, CNET reported Monday. Available in three vivid colors and expected to ship in 2-4 weeks, the $130 Google Glass-like accessory is now available online via spectacles.com.

Rumor: four new iPad Pros, 128GB iPhone SE and iPhone 7 in Red to be unveiled next month

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 20, 2017

Fairly reliable website Mac Otakara is reporting that Apple will be holding a media event next month to announce hardware updates for several of its popular products. Wondering what's on tap for a refresh? According to the Japanese publication, Apple will add a new 128-gigabyte iPhone SE model to the existing 16GB and 64GB capacities.

In addition, we should also see the previously rumored Red model of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus and four new iPad Pro models introduced at the event.

Distil Union’s Wally Ether wallet case provides credit card storage on a budget

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

With leather wallet iPhone cases being a hot commodity, we’ve recently shown you several from brand names. Another little-known contender in the market is Distil Union, a company that integrates their unique quick-release technology into the card slot of their cases.

In this review, we’ll be showing you the Distil Union Wally Ether for the iPhone 7 Plus. It's a wallet case alternative with stitched leather flavor that has been designed for minimalists who need to carry a card or two on them anywhere they go.

Check out stealth case for iPhone prototypes Apple uses to prevent leaks

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 17, 2017

More than six years ago, an Apple engineer mistakenly left an iPhone 4 prototype on a bar stool in a nice German beer garden in Redwood City, California. The rest, as they say, is history.

The random dude who originally found it didn't really have a clue he'd gotten hold of Apple's biggest secret at the time as the prototype device was cleverly disguised as an ordinary iPhone 3GS.

Australian leakster Sonny Dickson gave MacRumors a closer look at a special stealth case Apple uses to prevent leaks and conceal handset prototypes during transport between its Cupertino headquarters and manufacturing partners in China.

D-Link’s 180-degree home surveillance camera with HomeKit support hits Apple.com

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 15, 2017

D-Link's Omna 180 Cam HD Camera is now available to purchase from Apple.com, priced at $200. Unveiled at CES 2017 last month, D-Link's new accessory for the connected home is certified for Apple's HomeKit platform, meaning users can control it in the stock Home app on their iPhone or iPad.

Omna 180 Cam HD Camera files as the world's first home surveillance accessory that comes with native HomeKit video integration.

The smart home device features a 180-degree wide angle lens capable of capturing an entire room, Full HD 1080p video resolution, two-way audio, night vision up to 16 feet (five meters), even in complete darkness, and a microSD card slot.

Apple reportedly pulls LG’s new 5K monitor from sale over hardware issues

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 13, 2017

Here's another proof Apple should have thought twice before exiting the standalone display business—the company was forced to suspend sales of LG's new 5K monitor that launched last fall along with the new MacBook Pro following a flurry of complaints from users, ranging from screen flickering to interference with nearby routers to problems with Thunderbolt, Business Insider reported Monday morning.

Apple Stores have stopped carrying the $974 LG UltraFine 5K Display for now. It continues to be available through Apple.com, with a shipping time of 5-6 weeks and no options for pickup in Apple Stores. Maybe now would be the perfect time to revive the phased-out Apple Thunderbolt Display?